T46 400m final

1. H. C. Muvunyi (Rwa) 49:16

2. E. Ndimulunde (Nam) 49:52

3. K. J. L. Noumbo (CIV) 50:19

6. J. C. Ndayisenga (Rwa) 52: 88

Rwanda’s paralympian Hermas Cliff Muvunyi made yet more history on Thursday evening, registering his personal best of 49:16 to retain gold in the Men’s T46 400m category at the 11th All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Muvunyi, 27, also the reigning world champion in T46 800m, overcame stiff challenge from hopefuls Elias Ndimulunde (49:52) of Namibia, who claimed silver, and Ivory Coast’s Jean Luc Kouame Noumbo, who clocked 50:19 to take bronze.

Another Rwandan, Jean Claude Ndayisenga, used 52:88 to finish last in the 6-runner race after Sacko Mahamane of Mali abandoned the race while Alex Anjos from Sao Tome and Principe were disqualified.

Muvunyi had qualified for the finals earlier on Thursday after he used 49:79 to top heat one table while compatriot Ndayisenga had finished second in heat two.

Muvunyi, won gold in 400m and silver in 800m at the 10th All Africa Games in 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique.

He now shifts focus to the upcoming IPC World Championships slated for October 21-31 in Doha, Qatar where he will be seeking to win the 400m title because the T46 800m category has been removed from all International Paralympic Committee (IPC) competitions.

Speaking to Saturday Sport on Friday, National Paralympic Committee (NPC) president Celestin Nzeyimana was full of praise for Muvunyi, emphasizing that the athlete has proved himself as a national treasure and tipped him for more glorious days in future.

"No words can describe what Muvunyi has achieved, no doubt he ranks up there among the best athletes the country has ever known, we are proud of him. We now need to prepare him well for the World Championships where we expect him to be the man to beat,” Nzeyimana stated.

At the 11th edition of the quadrennial All Africa Games (September 4-19) which climax today in Brazzaville, Rwanda won four medals, gold in Men’s road race and bronze in Team’s time trial (cycling), bronze in women’s beach volleyball and Muvunyi’s gold.